Endless track for motor vehicles



A. F. MASURY July 18, 1933.

ENDLESS TRACK I-OR MOTOR VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. l0, 1932 w Y $1 mw. m.

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INVENTOR July 18, 1933; A, F. MASURY 1,918,853

ENDLESS TRACK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. lO, 1932 INVENTOR ledEHSm/y,

J H' A TTORNEYS July 18, 1933. A. F. MAsURY ENDLESS TRACK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENT 0R /IedE/Vawy,

#W 111; Anomns' July 18,1933 A. F. MAsURY 1,918,853

ENDLESS TRACK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L Q0 3? JNVENTOR H'redl/aar BY @fait Q i 7 las AORNEKS' Patented `luly 18, 1933 .UNITED STATES PATEISJTEv OFFICE VALFRED F. MASURY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., Assienon rro INTERNATIoNAL Moron `co1vr i IANY, F NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE ENDLESS TRACK FOR MOTOR `V'IEIBICLES Application led VFebruary 10, l1932. Serial-No. 592,058.

The present invention relates to drives for motor vehicles and embodies, more specifically, a drive .utilizing an endless track which Vbears upon the surface over which the vethe track.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a track of the above character wherein cushioning means'is provided bctween each of the links of an endl-ess track formotor vehicles whereby relative movevment of the track elements is resisted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cushioning means of the above character wherein the track elements are connected together, vby yielding connections which oHer greater resistance to relative movement of the elements with respect to each other in one direction than in another direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an 'endless track construction o the above character wherein the elements are so formed as .to facilitate the manufacture and assembly of the track and to enable. the track to offer a materially greater resistance to flexing in one direction than in another.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, Vwill be apparent as the invention isV described in greater detail in connection .with the accompanyingv drawings, wherein: r

Figure 1 is a view in section, taken transversely through a track constructed in accordance with the present invention, the

' view being taken onthe section line 1-1 of Figure 2, rand looking in the direction'of t-he arrows.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2- -2 of Figure 1,and lookingin the direction o'f the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing a link adapted -to be connected, as described hereinafter to form an endless track.

Figure 4 is a viewsimilar showing a link construction adapted to c0- operate with thek'link shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail View in isometric proright angles to each other.

to Figure 3,

jection showing a cushioning element adapted to be connected between the link sections i shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is aview similar to Figure 5, showingv a cushioning element.V also adapted to be connected between the link sections of Figures 3 and 4. in alternate relationship with the cushioning elementsof the type il lustrated in Figure 5. Y i

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modied form of belt.

Figure 8 is a view, in section, taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

. Figure 9 is a view in section, taken on the broken line9v-9 of Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows. v v p Figure 10 is ak view in side elevation, showing one of the connecting links of the track constructed in accordance with the present f ing the link of Figure 12.

Referring to the construction shown in. Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a track orfbelt construction is shown as including a vplurality of treads "10 upon opposite sidesgofthe intermediate plane of which vvehicle tires 11 are adapted to engage. Each tread has mounted thereon a plate 12, the plate being secured to the tread by means of rivets 13. Eachv plate-is formed with a curved portion 12 at either end thereof. Upon the curved portion, at one end of the plate, a housing 14 is mounted, this housing being formedof circular section and having a hub 15 which is adapted to'receive a boltnl. Nithin the housing 14, blocks of yielding non-metallic material 17 are vmounted,.these blocks being illustrated in Figure 5 as formed with radial recesses 18 which extendinplanes lyingat A central recessed portion 19 is alsoformed inthe block in order that it may be mounted over thel hub 15 and the radial recesses are adapted to engage cooperating vanes formed in the housing v14 and cooperating elements of adjacent links. To thisV end, oppositely extending vanesv 20 are vformed on the hubs 15 of `have lbeen illustratedA lookingv in `opposite di- 'diagonal vanes 24e-'ofthe yadjacent plate 21 'or' track.- in assembling the elements, is therefore faced the housingy 14 andare adapted to be received in the cooperating recesses 18 ofthe blocks! 17. Upon the next tread member of the track adjacent the tread upon which ak plate l2 has lbeen secured,'a plate 21 Vis mounted, this plate being formed with rounded ends 22. @ne of the ends 22 of each of the plates 21 is formed with vertical oppositely extending vanes 23, while the otherend of each of vthe plates 21 is formed with diagonally eXtending vanes 24. Apertures`25 are 'formed in 'the rounded endsv at'theaxes thereof' toreceive the bolts 16, nuts 26 being provided to secure the elements in assembled position.

lnFigures3-an`d 4, the adjacent linksections rections Afrom the median plane Aof the belt Tlie-*llinks'ection 2l of ,'Figure '4,

-infthe 'direction opposite tolthatshown in Figure 4, -in order that the right hand circular end bearing the'vertical valnes'23 may cooperate with the-right; hand 'circular section of plate 12 of Figure 3-which is'providedwith housing 14an'd horizontal vanes 20. The vanes 23 land 20 tare thus received within the recesses 18 off the blocks of yielding non-metallic: material 'shown in Figure 5,

and relative movement between the1plate'12 land the -plateladjacent thereto to the right -is thus yieldinglyresisted. n

`The left 'hand rounded "en'd of plate 12 is also provided withla circular-housing V14u 'within lwhich diagonal vanes 27 are provided. These diagonal vanes cooperate with the and blocks of yielding non-metallic material of" the type shown inFigureG are provided in order that relativemovement between thel vanes 24 and 27 :may bey resisted. It `will be seen, from/an inspection-of Figure 2, that the diagonal vane formation between adjacentL "pairs of linksaiords a v1longer cushion-ing column to resist `relative movement between the linksin' one direction with lessforce than relative movement in the oppositeldirection is aresisted. Relative movement in the opposite vkdirection is resisted by the jsmall column of yielding non-metallic material between the diagonal link sections *and thus greaterresistance isaorde'd7 to relative movement of the sectionsfin such direction.

Inorder that the motorvehicle tires 11V may *be protected, guard plates 28 are lformed on each of the plates12 and 21, thus preventing the sides of the' tires contacting "with the connecting elements of'` the links.

Y webs 32'are provided.

In the forin'o track shown 'in Figures 7 through '13, the treads arerprovided with links formed byA plates' 29 and30. Plates 29 have circular housings 131ormedrat each end thereof inwhich inwardly eXtendin -Upon plates130-diagonal webs 33 are fiormed, these plates not being provided with yhousings in view of the fact thatl they are adapted to lie Hush with'the vhousings 31 of the plates 29, as seen in Figure 9. Blocks of yielding non-metallic material 34 are formed with' grooves to receive the webs 32 and *33,

" the blocks being formed -with short columns 35 and long columns 36. Within the long columns, apertures 37 are provided to increase the yielding characteristics of the long columns.

Upon the backs of lplates 29 and 30,)protective plates 38 and 39 :are provided. The protective plates are secured together `by means of straps 40 which are of U-shape-and provided, upon one extremity, withy an enlarged portionr41 which is adapted to overlie the"y rounded Aextremitiesl of adjacent plates The other extremity of the ,-U-shaped straps'are received within recesses 42 and-'lie between the protective plates-and the respective plates 29 and' 30. .Apertures v43 are formedin the protectivejplates 38 and 39 in order that bolts 44 may be inserted Vinto i the ends of the strap 40 -and-throughthe .plates 29 and 30 to secureithe elements together.l A

,engaging the track between the` supporting tires. Relative pivotal .movement rot thetra'ck in passing over vthetires is resisted "only -slightly in view Vof 'the yielding nature of the long columns 36 which recesses'37 are formed -In this fashion, thelinks .Iandtread's of fthe endless trackar'e` normally urged out- Vvvardly or, when the track'isassembled,

downwardly against the terrain., nv acltion ofthe belt to'force it upwardly'be-'- xtween the wheels on its span againstl the terrainis resisted with a: greaterforce'than action infthe reverse direction., Irregularities in the terrain thus only serve toV increase the effective traction of the vehicle.

AVVhile'the invention has been described with specilicreierence to'the accompanying drawings, itis not to'be limited, saveas Edefined in the appendedclaims'.

VI claim as my invention: y 1. -An endless track for motor vehicles comjprisingfa series of articulated linkmembers, treadlmembers connected to said 'link 'members .an'd'lmeans associated -with saidllink mem-bers for resisting-deflection of the'track 3130 inwardly and outwardly, the said means for resisting deflection inwardly being adapted to act with greater force than that resisting deflection in the opposite direction.

2. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, tread members connected to said link members, means associated with said link members for normally urging the track outwardly, whereby the track has a normal outward bow, and means to resist deflecting movement inwardly of the track with greater force than in the opposite direction, whereby lirregularities of the terrain increase the effective traction of the vehicle.

3. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, tread members connected to said link members, a plurality of webs secured to each link member, the webs of eac-h link member being adapted to cooperate with webs of adjacent link members, the cooperating webs being so positioned as to provide relatively large and small spaces for receiving resilient bodies, resilient bodies mounted therein serving to resist deflection of the said track from its normal position, the said relatively large and small spaces and resilient bodies therein being so positioned as to provide a greater force against movement of the track upwardly from the terrain than movement in the opposite direction.

4. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, a tread member connected to each of said link members, a plurality of webs secured to each link member, the webs of each link member being adapted to cooperate with webs of adjacent link members, the cooperating webs being so positioned as to provide relatively large and small spaces for holding resilient material between said webs, a large body of resilient material in said larger spaces and a small body of resilient material in said smaller spaces, the said larger spaces being so positioned relative to the smaller spaces that in the flexing movement of the track, the tread members are normally urged outwardly against the terrain and action to force the track upwardly between the wheels is resisted with -a greater force than action in the reverse direction.

5. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, tread members connected to said link members, a plurality of webs secured to each link member, the webs of each link member being adapted to cooperate with webs of adjacent link members, the cooperating webs being so positioned as to provide a relatively large space in which resilient means are mounted which resists flexing of the track in one direction and a relatively small space in which resilient means are mounted which resists with greater force flexing of the track in the opposite direction upwardly from the terrain, whereby irregularities in the terrain over which said track passes serves to increase the effectivek traction area of said track, and guard plates cooperating with said link members to prevent engagement of the link members with the tires of a vehicle.

6. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, tread members connected to said link members, a plurality of webs secured to each link member, the webs of each link member being adapted to cooperate with webs of adjacent link members, the cooperating webs being'so positioned as to provide spaces in which a resilient block member may be mounted, a resilient block member mounted in said space to resist flexing of the track from a linear direction, said block being so proportioned and positioned with respect to said cooperating webs as to resist flexing of the track upwardly from the terrain with greater force than in the reverse direction, whereby irregularities in the ter-l rain over which said track passes serves to increase the eliective traction area of the track. i

7. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, tread members connected to said link members, a plurality of webs secured to each of said link members and extending insa radial direction from a central point, the web-s of each link member being adapted to cooperate with corresponding webs of adjacent link members and so positioned as to formradial recesses having acute and obtuse angles in which bodies of resilient material are mounted, the obtuse anglesbeing so positioned with respect to the acute angles that resilient material mounted therein operates to resist flexing of the track in a direction upwardly from the terrain with greater force than flexing thereof in the reverse direction. j

8. An endless track for motor vehicles comprising a series of articulated link members, each link member comprising a vertical plate, means at each end of the plate to hinge the plates together, a plurality of oppositely extending webs arranged radially to the hinge connection, the webs of each plate lying at an angle to the cooperating webs on the adjacent plate, a block of cushioning material having radial recesses therein adapted to receive cooperating webs at the said hinge connection, the said webs being arranged to form acute and obtuse angles and so positioned that the cushioning material between the acute angles serves to resist inward movement of the track and the longer column of resilient material between the obtuse angles serves to resist flexing of the track in the opposite direction.

ALFRED F. MASURY. 

